Jeremy J. Camilleri, Sta Luċija
Union's attack on protest march
I would like to ask Jesmond Bonello, assistant general secretary of the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin (Tariffs Protest: Why Some Will Not Be Taking Part, February 26) why this union and its lackeys decided to issue a full frontal attack on the demonstration by the unions representing the absolute majority of Maltese unionised workers.
If the UĦM does not believe in protest marches under a PN administration, wouldn't it have been enough not to take part, without resorting to an organised campaign, incidentally identical to that carried out by the Nationalist media?
Why did it do its utmost to reduce the impact of this protest? What is the real reason behind such a hostile approach? Pressure from its own members who are feeling the bite of the draconian utility bills review, or something far more sinister?
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Jeremy J Camilleri
Mar 2nd 2010, 08:59
C Camilleri..a very simple question repeated time and tme again, just like its very simple answer .
In 1997 Dr Sant PROPOSED the increase of the tarrifs...but never actually increased them.
The current administration, on the other hand, has refused to freeze the tarrifs whilst discussions are held.
Despite the increased bills never being issued by Dr Sant, the UHM, not worried about investment and job creation, decided to paralyse the Freeport.
G.Schembri
Mar 2nd 2010, 01:57
Mr Martinelli this is a minority government. Yesterday the MAJORITY were at the protest since both PL and AD accepted the invitation to attend the protest. So we are back to the 80s where the minority is dictating to the majority, because it has an extra seat in parliament.
G.Schembri
Mar 2nd 2010, 01:52
@ c.camilleri The GWU did not strike when Alfred Sant proposed (he did not raise the bills, no high bills were issued and none were paid ) because he froze the tariffs to until further studies were undergone. Which is exactly the opposite of what Lawrence Gonzi did. Lawrence Gonzi continued discussing the tariffs, while at the same time the bills are being worked at ARMS. I wonder what percentage of our bills will be its profit.
Tajba din jakkes lilna biex igawdu il-HBIEB. ARE YOU BY ANY CHANCE ONE OF HIS FRIENDS ?
Jeremy J Camilleri
Mar 1st 2010, 23:59
C Camilleri..a very simple question repeated time and tme again, just like itanits very simple answer .
In 1997 Dr Sant PROPOSED the increase of the tarrifs...but never actually increased them.
The current administration, on the other hand, has refused to freeze the tarrifs whilst discussions are held.
Despite the increased bills never being issued by Dr Sant, the UHM, not worried about investment and job creation, decided to paralyse the Freeport.
laurence schembri
Mar 1st 2010, 23:10
Mr, C,Camilleri
Please check your facts, you cannot go around apeing what politicians says.
The last time that the priceof oil was $12.50 a barrel was in 1986, yearly average $14.64.
In 1996 the price was $17.33 a barrel, yearly average $2046.
The whole truth is that the tarrifs on W&E is to cover the deficit, this has been confirmed by Tonio Borg over and over. The only problem is that the Finance Minister, cannot really put up Income Tax for they will be going against their Manifesto, that Income Tax will be cut down, well it has not happened yet and it won`t be because of a deficit of nearly Four Billion Euro.
So instead of increasing taxes, he lumbered each household with these highly inflated W&E tarrifs and that is a true fact, so much so, that the comparisons that we a being given now is Greece. You talk about VAT. Do you know that for the past 5 years, we have been paying VAT higher than that in the UK, were the average wage is quadruple that of ours. It is not lessons that we want but a fair and just explanation, no more lies.
T Camilleri
Mar 1st 2010, 22:18
c.camilleri The other unions who did not participate in yesterday and today's protests are pn lackeys camilleri. When Dr Sant got wise as to what those responsible for Enemalta wanted to do, namely saddle the people and make them pay for their incompetence, Dr Sant stopped the Bills and was going to revise them. Gonzi did not and wants the people to pay for the incompetents at enemalta.
lgalea
Mar 1st 2010, 22:15
J Martinelli Did not the British, USA and Russians join together against Hitler Martinelli?
So what's wrong with several unions because there were 11 other unions and not only the GWU who organized the protest unite together?
And is there anything wrong in the PL giving its support for the protest?
Aren't protests made in every country Martinelli?
Or is it that demonstrations cannot be made because there is your incompetent and arrogant government in power?
Whether you and the other pn apologists like it or not we shall continue to protest for as long as is necessary against your incompetent and arrogant Gonzi government Martinelli.
c.camilleri
Mar 1st 2010, 16:32
Jeremy why did the GWU and its lackeys not strike and preferred to go on studying the case when the labour Govt of DR Sant raised the costs of water and electricity bills when the price of fuel was still 12 dollars a barrel and not 80 dollars? Simple question and requires a simple answer. This is a case similar to the Vat. Joseph is using the same tactics and the same people.to be P.M In spite of everything the truth always triumph. Vat has come to stay and the fuel prices will be with us too because there was and is no other way out. But it seems that certain people never learn.
laurence schembri
Mar 1st 2010, 15:02
With the UHM is a matter of Blue is the Colour and please, please, don`t anyone out there deny it.
laurence schembri
Mar 1st 2010, 13:45
The UHM is simply a mouthpiece to todays administration, 80% of its members believe this and the other 20% are in denial.
J Martinelli
Mar 1st 2010, 13:24
@ T Camilleri & michael Degiorgio By your own arguments it emerges that the GWU are the lackeys of the MLP or LP or the 'Moviment' and vice-versa. I would have liked to see what kind of a crowd the GWU would have pulled had the LP kept mum on the issue. Instead to save faces (Joseph and Toni) held hands and acted as a forcina for each other. In the end, the government governs - not the Opposition and certainly not the General Workers' Union! Pity that the workers are being hoodwinked by GWU and the LP and don't seem to even notice, let alone care! But then, no wonder, 'Il-baqra tinbigh kollha!'
michael Degiorgio
Mar 1st 2010, 11:55
well mr bonello is eating humble pie this morning as he got his answer to what the public feels about the tariffs as can been seen on all media reports and its nothing new for the uhm as they are always in line with this government they all seem to forget how to name just two things that they blocked the freeport and how they took to the streets over the tariffs when mlp were in power he also forgets that his boss of the union was asking for 9 maltese a week rise
T Camilleri
Mar 1st 2010, 10:59
Those unions who did not take part in the protest are not only PN lackeys but showed without any shadow of doubt that they do not have the interests of their members at heart because their own members are also going to receive their bills with the vast increase in tariffs. Their members should note this and if they really want their interests to be looked after they should seriously consider leaving them and joining one of the unions who are clearly showing that they look after their members interests.